What makes this book so remarkable is the author's style of elequent writing. He takes the core message of each author and presents it to you in a clear, consise and extremly focused manner.

I am always searching for "good stuff" on self improvement. Tom has done a great service and a teriffic job of sifting through hundreds of books on personal development to share only a select few that have become true classics.

As a published author of a book on self motivation, this book is: Motivating!"

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated &
Founder of www.CoachingWithResults.com


Absolutely first class introduction to self-help   October 7, 2003
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Tom Butler-Bowdon has put together a superb collection of short reviews of self-help books here. Although I had read many of the featured authors already, there is such a broad range in the chosen 50 that I suspect most other seasoned self-help readers would benefit as I did. For beginners and those curious about the self-help publishing phenomenon, this could indeed be "the only self-help book you will ever need" as they say!

The brief summaries of each book and writer are balanced, intelligent and insightful. The "in a nutshell" comments are invariably accurate e.g. "When you are aligned with your higher self and your life purpose, miraculous things happen" for "Real Magic" by Wayne Dyer. Butler-Bowdon also presents the case for and against each book and writer, being more obviously critical of some than others, but remaining open and balanced with his objective assessments.

The inclusion of the Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita and Benjamin Franklin's autobiography stretches the "self-help" genre beyond obvious modern writers and adds depth. 50 more books are recommended at the end. Excellent, thanks Tom!


good buy   June 27, 2003
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Really good read - the author cuts through thousands of pages to ive you bite-sized info saving you time & money. Now I want to go and read some of the books he summarises and think I'll get their points much more quickly & clearly with my new knowledge of the field!


Informative, inspiring and satisfying   May 5, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Butler-Bowdonys book is just the kind of book one would hope to find in this genre. I had picked it up with the intent of browsing through some of the summaries, but quickly found myself going from one summary to the next, and the next. Each classic is discussed in uncomplicated prose, with Butler-Bowdonys own inimitable wit and insight. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is so much more than a simple summation of key principles but in fact manages to convincingly give us a sense of how each author and their respective classic came to fruition. Itys the kind of book thatys almost guaranteed to invigorate your sense of purpose. It makes one want to ysuck the marrow out of lifey and we all need such reminding every now and then.


Fantastic Compendium   February 19, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a fantastic compendium of ideas, elegantly presented and superbly described and selected by the author. If you want to get the best insights into how to change your life, it is all here. Butler-Bowdon will whet your appetite and I confidently predict that you will buy one of the books he summarises, and then another, and then another ... because his judgment is so good.

One of the great things is that you can browse in this book for five minutes, and are bound to come up with an idea you can use right away to improve your personal life. Do it, and then dip back into the book later.

A book to keep with you, especially for those times when life really is difficult. But inspiring too at any time.

It has really helped me, and can help you too. Go read!